Prohibited product ingredients at a glance

Regulations specifically prohibit or restrict use of these ingredients in cosmetics, according to the Food and Drug Administration:

• Bithionol. May cause photocontact sensitization.

• Chlorofluorocarbon propellants. Used in cosmetic aerosol products and prohibited.

• Chloroform. Prohibited in cosmetic products because of animal carcinogenicity and for being a likely hazard to human health.

• Halogenated salicylanilides (di-, tri-, metabromsalan and tetrachlorosalicylanilide). Also might cause photocontact sensitization.

• Methylene chloride. Prohibited for animal carcinogenicity and as a likely hazard to human health.

• Vinyl chloride. A carcinogen prohibited as an ingredient of aerosol products.

• Zirconium-containing complexes. In aerosol cosmetic products, these are prohibited because of their toxic effect on lungs.

• Prohibited cattle materials. To protect against mad cow disease. 

More articles in our package on OTC product ingredients:

Inactive but controversial OTC product ingredients

The evidence around nanotechnology

Resources for physicians and patients

Talking about preservatives with patients

What consumers are reading

Paraben facts and fallacies

GRAPHIC: An explanation of parabens for patients

Johnson & Johnson's commitment to consumers